Cigarette-opening device.



E. D. SMITH.

CIGARETTE OPENING DEVICE.

. APPLIOATION FILED NOV.l9, 1912.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

COLUMBIA FMNOGRAI'H 60-. WASHINGTON. D. c.

' E. D. SMITH. CIGARETTE OPENING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1912.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANouRAPH 00.,WA8BMI0N. D. c-.

UNI ETATS FFIGE.

ELBERON D. SMITH, OF BROOKLYN, NEVJ YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 AIVIERICAN MACHINE &

FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CIGARETTE-OPENING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELBnRoN D. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cigarette-Opening Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved cigarette opening device.

In the operation of cigarette machines of the continuous rod type, some of the cigarettes made are defective and unfit for sale and use. If such cigarettes are allowed to accumulate inv any great number, the tobacco of which they are made dries out and itself becomes unfit for use. It is therefore desirable that defective cigarettes produced by a cigarette machine be opened as quickly as possible so that the tobacco contained therein may be used to make other cigarettes before it dries and becomes brittle or otherwise defective. WVith this end in view, certain cigarette opening devices have been heretofore used in connection with individual cigarette machines so that defective cigarettes could be quickly opened and the tobacco used again.

The present inventlon has for its main object the general improvement of devices of this character.

A further object is the production of a device in which a plurality of cigarettes may be simultaneously forwarded into the range of action of rotating knives having interrupted cutting edges which produce a chopping action upon the cigarette, this choping action having been found to be more efficient than a mere slitting action.

Still another object is the production of a device of the character described which is adapted for use in connection with high speed cigarette machines of the cont nuous rod type and which may be thrown 1n and out of action without interfering with the action of the machine as a whole.

WVith these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafterdescribed and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

D In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts, Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a device constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1. And Figs. 3 and 4 are re spectively sectional views taken on the line 33 and on the line 44 in Fig. 1.

In carrying the invention into efiect there is provided a forwarding belt-1. This belt runs over a driving pulley 2 fixed upon a shaft 3 suitably j ournaled in bearings 4; and 5 formed in a casting 6 which is the main frame of the device. The belt 1 also runs over idle pulleys 7 and 8 and over a table 9 located between the pulleys 7 and 8. Means for tightening the belt are provided and this means consists of a roller 10 running on a stud 11 which is fixed upon one end of a lever 12. This lever is fulcrumed on the shaft 3 before referred to, between the bearing 4 and the pulley 2. The opposite end of the lever is provided with a lug projectin through a slot 13 in the outer wall of the casting 6 and is held in adjusted position by means of a clamp screw 14.

Means are provided for supporting and for guiding a plurality of cigarettes in parallel. and separated longitudinal positions on said belt, and this means may vary within wide limits. The means for supporting a plurality of cigarettes constitutes a source of cigarette supply. In the device selected to illustrate the invention this means includes a series of half round bars 15 which overlie the belt 1 and are secured to the end wall of the casting 6 by being driven into suitable apertures therein. To further the guiding action, the walls of the casting 6 are flared at 16 and converge toward the belt so that they form a hopper in which a number of cigarettes may be placed at once. It is to be understood that the space between the bars 15 and between the bars and side walls of the casting 6 is designed to permit only one cigarette to enter each space at any one time.

In certain constructions a chute may be used to deliver cigarettes to the guiding means formed by the flaring wall 16 and bars as described. When such a device is used, it is mounted above one end of the guiding means and is formed of sheet metal and provided with means for delivering cigarettes to the guiding means in substan tial parallelism. As shown, the chute 17 has vertical side walls 18 and an inclined bot tom 19, the delivery end of this bottom being corrugated at 20, the corrugations beinggenerally in alinement with the spaces between adjacent bars 15 and between the bars 15 and the flaring side walls 16 of the main cast-ing. V

For the purpose of opening the cigarettes forwarded by the belt 1 there is provided a plurality of rotating knives each having an interrupted cutting edge whereby a chopping action is produced upon the cigarette as the knife rotates. As shown, the knives 21 each have cutting edges formed by grinding semi-circular recesses 22 in its periphery. The knives are mounted upon a shaft 23 which is journaled in boxes 24 slidably mounted in suitable ways in the casting 6. The knives and shaft 23 are adjustable toward and away from the belt 1 and this is effected by means of springs 25 which bear against the lower side of the boxes 24 and by means of adjusting screws 26 which bear against the upper side of the boxes 24. These adjusting screws are threaded through plates or caps 27 screwed or otherwise fastened to the main casting 6 over the ways in which the boxes are mounted. A curved guard 28 is provided which covers the upper part of the knives and this guard is carried by the caps 27 just described. The rear wall of the guide acts as the forward wall of the hopper formed by the belt 1 and the flaring wall 16 of the casting 6, and its lower end extends downward to a position which. permits the passage of a single line of cigarettes thereunder, but no more. The shaft 23 is provided with a pulley 29 over which runs a belt 30, which belt derives its motion from a pulley 31 fixed upon a shaft 32 journaled in the walls of the casting 6. There is further provided a belt tightener 33 constructed and operated in the usual manner. The shaft 32 carries a spur gear 34 which is in mesh with a gear 35, the hub of which is shaped at 36 to form a female clutch member. The inner end of the shaft 3 is provided with a cofiperating male clutch member 37. The gear 35 is fixed upon a shaft 38 journaled in a bearing 39 which is formed integrally on the main frame of the cigarette machine in connection with which the device is used. The shaft 38 carries a clutch member 40 adapted for engagement with a corresponding clutch member 41 se cured to a shaft 42 which is journaled in a bearing 43 also formed on the main frame of the cigarette machine. Splined upon the shaft 42 is a bevel gear 44 having a flange 45 countersunk in the main frame of the cigarette machine. This bevel gear is held in position by means of a retainer 46 which engages the flange 45 and which is screwed or otherwise fastened to the frame of the cigarette machine. In mesh with the bevel gear 44 is a second bevel gear 47 fixed upon the lower end of a vertical shaft 48 which is journaled in a bearing 49 bolted to the main frame of the cigarette machine. It is to be understood that the vertical haft 48 derives its motion through intermediate gearing, not shown, from the main power shaft of the cigarette machine and that it rotates continuously. The outer end of the shaft 42 is adapted to rotate in and slide through a bearing 50 formed on a bracket 51 bolted to the cigarette machine frame. Just outside of this bearing a collar 52 is pinned to the shaft 42 and on its extreme end another collar 53 is pinned. Between these two collars is located an operating knob 54 which at any time may be seized and moved rearwardly to disconnect the clutch members 40 and 41. For the purpose of holding the clutch members 40 and 41 out of engagement there is provided a spring pressed latch 55 adapted for engagement with the knob 54 to hold it in position.

56 indicates the ordinary collector belt of a cigarette machine of the continuous rod type upon which the cigarettes are automatically deposited as produced by the machine. It is shown in Fig. 1 merely to indicate the relative positions of said collector belt and the chute 17.

The lower part of the casting 6 is provided with a spring closed door 57 of wellknown construction and which may be opened to discharge any tobacco dust that may collect within the casting below the belt 1. For the purpose of brushing ofl any dust which may adhere to the belt 1, there is provided a wiper 58 screwed or otherwise fastened to the casting 6 immediately below the pulley 8. For the purpose'of providing means for separating the tobacco from opened cigarettes and the paper wrappers of the same, there is provided a receptacle 59, the top of which is open. Within the opening is located a screen 60 of wire net or other suitable material. This receptacle. is located adjacent and under the delivery end of the belt 1 and it will be readily understood that the tobacco from the open cigarettes falling upon the screen will fall through the same, while the paper wrappers will be collected upon the screen. From this receptacle the tobacco may be removed at frequent intervals and re-used while the paper may be thrown away.

Changes and variations may be made in the structure by means of which the invention is carried into effect. The invention therefore is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

Vhat is claimedis:

1. In a cigarette opening device, the combination with a forwarding belt, of means for guiding a plurality of cigarettes into parallel and separated longitudinal positions on said belt, and a plurality of rotating knives adapted to engage the cigarettes forwarded by the belt and cut them open.

2. In a cigarette opening device, the combination with a forwarding belt, of means for guiding a plurality of cigarettes into parallel and separated longitudinal positions on said belt, and a plurality of rotating knives having interrupted cutting edges adapted to engage the cigarettes forwarded by the belt and chop them open.

3. In a cigarette opening device, the combination with a forwarding belt, of a series of bars adapted to guide a plurality of cigarettes into parallel and separated longi tudinal positions on said belt, and a plurality of rotating knives having interrupted cutting edges adapted to engage the cigarettes forwarded by the belt and chop them open,

4. In a cigarette opening device, the combination with a forwarding belt, of a series of half round bars overlying the belt and adapted to guide a plurality of cigarettes into parallel and separated longitudinal positions on said belt, and a plurality of rotating knives having interrupted cutting edges adapted to engage the cigarettes forwarded by the belt and chop them open.

5. In a cigarette opening device, the combination with a forwarding belt, of means for guiding a plurality of cigarettes into parallel and separated longitudinal positions on said belt, and a plurality of rotating knives adapted to engage the cigarettes forwarded by the belt each of said l knives being substantially circular and having an interrupted cutting edge formed by grinding semi-circular recesses in its periphery.

(5. In a cigarette opening device, the combination with a forwarding belt, of means for guiding a plurality of cigarettes into parallel and separated longitudinal positions on said belt, a plurality of rotating knives having interrupted cutting edges adapted to engage the cigarettes forwarded by the belt and chop them open, and a feed chute provided with means for delivering cigarettes to the guiding means in substanti a l parallelism.

7. In a cigarette opening device, the combination with a forwarding belt, of means for guiding a plurality of cigarettes into parallel and separated longitudinal positions on said belt, a plurality of rotating knives having interrupted cutting edges adapted to engage the cigarettes forwarded by the belt and chop them open, and a feed chute the delivery end of which is corrugated, the corrugations being adapted to deliver cigarettes to the guiding means in substantial parallelism.

8. In a cigarette opening device, the combination with a forwarding belt, of means for guiding a plurality of cigarettes into parallel and separated longitudinal positions on said belt, a plurality of rotating knives having interrupted cutting edges adapted to engage the cigarettes forwarded by the belt and chop them open, and means for separating the tobacco and wrapper paper of the open cigarettes.

9. In a cigarette opening device, the combination with a forwarding belt, of means for guiding a plurality of cigarettes into parallel and separated longitudinal positions on said belt, a plurality of rotating knives having interrupted cutting edges adapted to engage the cigarettes forwarded by the belt and chop them open, and a screened receptacle to which the belt delivers open cigarettes and which is adapted to separate the loose tobacco from the cut wrapper papers.

10. In a cigarette opening device, the combination with a forwarding belt, of means for guiding a plurality of cigarettes into parallel and separated longitudinal positions on said belt, a plurality of rotating knives having interrupted cutting edges adapted to engage the cigarettes forwarded by the belt and chop them open, a continuously rotating shaft, connections whereby the shaft normally drives the forwarding belt and knives, and means for disconnecting the belt and knives from the continuously rotating shaft.

.1. In a cigarette opening device,the combination with. a forwarding belt, of means for guiding a plurality of cigarettes into parallel and separated longitudinal positions on said belt, a plurality of rotating knives having interrupted cutting edges adapted to engage the cigarettes forwarded by the belt and chop them open, a continuously rotating shaft, connections whereby the shaft normally drives the forwarding belt and knives, and a clutch mechanism for adapted to support a plurality of cigarettes,

tudinal positions on said forwarding means,

disconnecting the belt and knives from the continuously rotating shaft.

12. In. a cigarette opening device, the combination with a source of cigarette supply and a plurality of devices adapted to engage the cigarettes advanced by the forwarding means and lay them open.

I n testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELBERON D. SMITH. \Vitnesses FRANK H. VIoK, Jr., ELIZABETH L. RUSSELL.

of means for forwarding cigarettes, means for separating cigarettes in the source ofl supply and for guiding the cigarettes sol separated into parallel and separated longi- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

